Civil War: Starving Richmond women rioted for bread for their families

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Civil War: Starving Richmond women rioted for bread for their families

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Photo: Starving Richmond women demanded bread, the staff of life
Wednesday, March 27, 2013 - The Civil War by Martha M. Boltz
Martha M. Boltz
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Ask me a question.



VIENNA, Va., March 27, 2013 — The women of Richmond wore no fancy antebellum gowns, their hair was not piled fashionably atop their heads, and they were not out for a social function such had existed prior to “the late unpleasantness.”
These women had another goal in mind, one far more realistic for the time. They were hungry and so were their families. It was April of 1863 and the War had been going on for a year and a half and the economy was struggling to a dangerous point. Invading armies had destroyed the fields and crops upon which families relied.
Congress had enacted a new law, an “Impressment Act,” as well as an additional tax law that resulted in speculation and outright hoarding, at least for those living in an urban area such as the capital city of Virginia.
Richmond’s population was a little over 100,000 by that time, rents had escalated and even the most basic of needs were out of range for families. On top of it all, 1863’s winter had been extraordinarily harsh. It had snowed appreciably at least twenty times, and some of the snowfalls resulted in snow a foot deep in Richmond.
Getting Food in the Spring Was Impossible
As the snow melted with the warming temperatures, the basic roads were soon muddy paths, and it was almost impossible for food stuffs, groceries and even fuel to reach the inhabitants. Women – even Richmond’s Southern-style women – had had enough.
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Two etchings of Richmond women taking to the streets​
On April 1, 1863, a large group of women whose husbands worked at Tredegar Iron Works as well as in other places met in a local church to see what could be done.
Two ladies, Minerva Meredith and Mary Jackson, came up with a plan. The women would descend upon Capitol Square on April 2 in an endeavor to get their needs and concerns heard by Governor John L. Letcher.
Bright and early the next day, they met at the George Washington statue and proceeded to the Governor’s mansion. To no one’s surprise, he refused to meet with them, though some accounts say he did. Either way, whatever response he theoretically gave them did not suit them, and the growing crowd of protesters left the Capitol and took aim at Ninth Street, where the business section could be found.

For the remainder of the story continue here: http://communities.washingtontimes....war-starving-richmond-women-rioted-bread-the/
 
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